I want to relay my appreciation for Merle McCallister’s “Contrarian” columns in the Ford County Chronicle, especially the most recent one. I may not always see things quite the same way, but he ...

After the invasion of Minneapolis by over 3,000 masked, armed, poorly trained Immigration and Custom Enforcement and Border Patrol officers, the tide appears to be turning against President Donald ...

So, I wrote to the NFL to see about advertising the books I authored during the Super Bowl. Thirty seconds would cost $7 million, I was told. That’s out of my budget. I asked about a one-second ...

Following is a list of cases filed recently in Ford County Circuit Court: FELONIES • James W. Phelps, 53, of Paxton, for threatening a public official, possession of a controlled substance and cruelty ...

GIBSON CITY — A new hotel in Gibson City is projected to be an asset to the community, concluded a recent hotel feasibility study commissioned by the Greater Gibson Area Economic Alliance, Gibson Area ...

CHAMPAIGN — Karin R. Carpenter, 66, of Champaign, formerly of Paxton, died at 12:42 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, at Haven of Meadowbrook in Champaign. Funeral arrangements were incomplete at Baier ...

PIPER CITY — Steven M. Lee, 54, of Piper City, died Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. A memorial visitation was from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Knapp-Redenius Funeral Home in Gilman. Burial will be ...

Karin Rae Carpenter, 66 of Champaign, formerly of Paxton, died at 12:42 p.m. Thursday, January 29, 2026, at Haven of Meadowbrook, Champaign. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, ...

PAXTON — A former agricultural teacher at Clifton Central High School in Iroquois County was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Wednesday, Jan. 28, after pleading guilty to two Class X felony counts ...

PONTIAC — A plea agreement has been reached in the criminal case against Robert L. Dinkins, a former Gibson City-Melvin Sibley coach and teacher charged with six counts of aggravated criminal sexual ...

GIBSON CITY — A fire at a Gibson City apartment building caused an estimated $20,000 in damage Saturday, Jan. 31. Gibson City firefighters were called around 9:04 a.m. to the Schoolhouse Apartments, ...

ROBERTS — Two dogs perished in a house fire in Roberts on Sunday, Feb. 1. Roberts-Melvin Fire Chief Ralph Denault said an estimated 45 firefighters from Roberts-Melvin, Buckley and Loda responded to ...